Tomorrow, Second Stage of the House of the Oireachtas Inquiries (Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013 will commence. Earlier, the Taoiseach restated his intention to hold a referendum to abolish the Seanad later this year. If the proposal is accepted by the people, when will he come back to the House with legislation to amend this inquiries Bill? The Bill's Title implies the Seanad has a role and it contains several references to the Seanad and to the Houses of the Oireachtas. We are, therefore, being asked to pass legislation in the full knowledge that if the Seanad is abolished in a few months, we will have to revisit it and amend it. What is the point of the legislation? When does the Taoiseach plan to introduce the amending legislation?

I expect to have the Seanad Bill published next week. If the people decide to abolish the Seanad, and it will be their choice, the current Seanad will continue until the night before the next Government is formed, which is three years away. The Bill that will go through the House tomorrow refers to the Seanad, which is, and will continue to be, a constitutional entity until it is abolished, if the people so decide. Subsequently, the Bill will be amended. However, the work of this Seanad will continue until the night before the next Government is formed. That depends on the question the people are asked in the autumn and the answer they give.